Automatic switch for telephone-exchange systems.



E. E. CLEMENT. AUTOMATIC SWITCH PoR TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1910.

1,076,020, Patented 0111.211913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A l /l l 'wi buono E. E. CLEMENT.

AUTGMATIC SWITCH FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1910. 1,076,020, Patented 0111.21, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2l z 1 Q t;

1 2a. i @M' Q i 7p i 6x y v E. E. CLEMENT.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH POR TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1910. 1,076,020, Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

II-IIIIH E. E. CLEMENT. AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1910. 1,076,020, Patented oct.21,1913.

UNITED STAT- ias Parana* onirica.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT, 0F WASHIQNGTDN, DtSTRICT F COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE CLEMENT INTERNATIONAL ENGINEERI' fr CORPORATION, OIF` CAMDEN, NEW JER- SEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SVEECH FR TELBPHO'NE-EXWANGE SYSTEMS.

1,076,02CL Specification of Letters Patent. Ptgnted Oct, 91, 1913 Application filed May 1'?, 191C. Serial No. 561,804.

To a/,l whom, it may concern Be 1t known that I, EDWARD E. CLEMENT,

4a citizen of the United States, residing at i It has particular reference to such switches as are used in telephone systems for selectively connecting a given circuit with any one of a number of other circuits. T ie switches heretofore employed for this purpose are Well exemplified in Patents Nos.

815,176 and 815,321, granted to Keith andy Erickson March 13, 1906..

The object of my invention is to produce' a switch which shall be at once simpler and more etlicient than those heretofore available, quickness and certainty of movement being points particularly in mind.

In order to attain my object I provide one or more banks containing the contacts from which selection is .to be effected, mount the same upon a suitable support, and associate therewith a frame carrying a spindle and wipers, together with operating magnets therefor. In order to secure quickness and certainty of operation I mount the magnet.-

My yinvention is illustratedy inthe eccola.

panying drawings wherein:

Figul'el is a side view of my improved switch; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same; Fig. 4 is a plan view of one electromagnet unit removed from the frame; Fig. 5 is an ond view thereoflooking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, and showing a latch for the release movementfthis particular unit beimz'theA rotary magnet; l"`igs. G and 7 are detail iigures ot' the spindle and its ratchets removed from the frame; Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 are plan and face views oi a portion of a contact bank, showing the method of inserting and securing the springs therein.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a plate upon which the diferent parts of the switch are mounted. Upon the back ofv this plate are secured the banks 3 and 4, and upon the front of it a frame 2 carrying the spindle 5 with itsv wipers, the operating magnets 5 and 7, and the release magnet 8. The banks 3 and 4 are 'alike in their construction and a brief description of one will suflice for both. The bank 3, therefore, consists of ten straight vertical rows of ten pairs of contacts each, held in a body ot insulating material, and clamped between side plates 3a and 3", each of which is provided with ears 3C, through which screws 3d are inserted to secure it upon the plate l. The body of insulation 3e is preferably built up of layers or curved strips of a suitable insulating composition, but it may be molded solid, the contacts in that case being set in the 1ie and the composition molded around them. lVhere the strips are employed, they are slotted or grooved to receive the contacts, which are placed therein as indicated in Figs. S and 9, and then the successive strips are piled up to form the bank. Where the slots are made exactly the same width as the contacts, however, there is a tendency for the latter to work loose, and I remedy this by havihg the strips molded with the slots from .-003 to .008 of an ,inch shallower than the` width of the spr-ings. The contacts being insulated and the strips piled up, the top and bottom plates 31" and 3* are put in position, the screws 3 are inserted, passing troml the top to the bottom plate and tapped int-o the latterythe bank is placed in an oven and heated sufficiently to soften the composition a little, and then by tightening the screws or otherwise forcing the plates 3 and 3" toether, the contacts will be forced into the substanceof each strip, both above and below, until the surfacesof the strips moet, thus insuring an absolutely7 tight grip. 1n Flg. 8 I have shown each Contact 3g with a small return bend in it at 'e1-h, but with a straight tail on the outside ot' the bank. The bendll is for the purpose of ireventing longitudinal disbraced without superuous metal.

placement outwardlyand to prevent the same inwardly, I may adopt either of two expediente, that is to say the one shown' in Fig. 8, on the left hand side, where the Contact is given a quarter turn outside the bank, the other where it is given a straight odset or bend on the outside, as shown in Fig. 9. VThese two methods may be combined if desired, and it will be observed in Fig. 9 that the oiitset at 3l? affords an opportunity to increase the insulation between the respective contacts by set-ting the offset in opposite directions in alternate rows and by setting it oppositely for each pair if de `sired.

The contacts are allplaced with their surfaces vertical and the wipers are slipped around beneath the rows of cont ets until the desired ro .i is reached, and then pass up that row. This it will be observed is a reversal of the method employed in the Keith antl Erickson switches hereinbefore referred to. In those and in all of the Strowger switches the movement up to the row and then around the row, the contacts being ari-angst'L with their tiat surfaces horizontal. The vertical arrangement, however, I consider to be better, because it makes the contains sellCA cleaning, whn i is an important point in apparatus of this charaiizter.

The frame consists of a finished white metal or similar casting haying a vert-ical straightsfaced member or body 2a, with upper. and lower attaching arms 2 and 21' respectively. Carried uponV suitable forward extensions 2g, 2h and 2, are front mounting plates 2e, 2f and 2m. These are of course connected by suitable Webs or fianges in casting so that the Whole' frame is properly The arms 2" have an intermediate horizontal web 2C carrying the upper bearing for the spindle 5, and an extension 2'd of this web carries the vertical and" rotary cutoff contact springs 9 and 10 which are actuated by the spindle as it returns to its zero or normal position. A similar web'at the bottom of the frame carries the lower bearing for the spindle, these beari being formed in separate collars or bus ings inserted through openings molded in the Webs of the frame.

The lspindle 5' slides vertically and also i' rotates in the bearings 5 and 5b. This vertical or sliding movement is'produced by means of a rack 5, best shown in Figs. l, 6 and 7. This 'rack does noiv turn with the spindle, but has upper and lower collars 5 and ctthrou o fh lwhich the spindle passes and through which it turns, these collars lying -between fixed colla-rs orsleeves 5d and 5e secured' upon the spindle in any suitable way as by means of the pins 5f. The upper collar 5d carries the rotary ratchet 5g, and the lower collar 5e hcarries the-Casin 5" within which the coiled spring is carried folkrestoring the switch to its zero position. This coiled spring is secured at its inner end upon the spindle and its outer end to the casing 5h as indicated at 5* in Fig. l. The casing carries the pin 55 which slides along the edge of the frame 2a and thereby keeps the tension of` the spring constant for all vertical positions.

The retaining pawl for the vertical ratchet, and the teeth which cooperate with it are on the side thereotl as shown at in Figs. 6 and 7, and are of the ordinary conformation.

As a means tor preventing rotation of the spindle after it starts to reciprocate, I provide a vertical knife edge 2q fixed on the Iinside of the frame member 2a. The/ rotary ratchet leaves the pawl 11 as soon as the spindie connnences to rise, but the first step which thus discngages it from the initial holding device lla brings it into engagement with the knife edge .21 through the medium ot any space between the teeth which happens to be in line with the knife edge. Thus it is impossible i'or the spindle ever to rotate after it is reciprocated. '/lhe rack 5C is likewise prevented from rotating by means of slides or stops on the frame member 2 and also by its engagement with the dog 1l.

Cooperating with both therotary and ver tical ratchets is a double detent dog ll, pivoted at l2 and having an upper straight member lia'cngaging the rotary ratchet, a lower hooked pawl l1" engaging the side ratchet 5cx on the vertical rack, and two tails 11c and 11d, the former engaged by the end of the armature lever S of the release magnet 8, and the latter adapted to engage and to be held by a latch (3a pivoted on the frame 6b of the rotary magnet. t4 (see Fig. In operation, when the release magnet is energized, the lever 8a is thrown over (to the rightV in Fig. 2), the tail 11d of the dog 11 is thrown with it and engages the latch 6a, being held thereby so that in case the release magnet is denergized before the rclease switch is fully restored, the dog will not be released, and the complete restoration of the switch willv not be interfered with. The latch 62l -is a bell crank pivo-ted at its angle and normally held in latching position by a spring 6C bearing upon its tail Gd. The armature lever 6e of the rotary magnet is the first to move when the switch is actu` ated, and its first movement, lifting the tail of the latch, releases the dog 1l, and permits the pawls 11a and 11b to engage their respective ratchets and thereby properly perform every function ofholding the spin` dle in a position to which itmay be stopped and until it is again released. f

The three magnets 6, 7 and 8 are shown as identical and interchangeable units, but. this feature in itself forms no part of my n'iy s e unit i'he absence 'ed emi ef its lever 8 t the inclined tail 11C l have shown f tine lever heing desc iotion el' this wr eil units, and as reference mey he units in the. ether figures For the Yscript;en We will assume 2g that relents the roti-ry unit G.

inonnied on .im-cie which may le i ci iron ef ether suitable metal. The i guet cores ere secureff to the plate hy Screw s fig see Teig. l. provided. with ein iren 17 (Lig.

nrmerl up in ne aluminum hedy, i

.rever is hes'elerl eil' at. its end, :i

35 ien 'resulte molested ai. the

foi-'min i, we.-

il norn ally two sides ef the lever j pqs xix..

the .nervi he' the si f forms no ncli 'will en in i....el t niention lint wl l ,L .ier the Wash ins'

l Fig. 5 shows the t unit turned up-en its side, with the top to he left, :is indicated hy the errew in that figure,

The armature, :1nd the hell crank lever (ik are held. against the top of the freine plate t, hy means of helical tension springs (3, l'iooiied ai. one end inte eyes (3" attached to n. ti'zinsverse pluie 6 carried on the frame plate. and formed with en opening through the lever erin G par" transverse sliding plate siniihir in .its increment to that carrying the knife edge (St is -provided under this plate GW, to. adjust the throw up and down olf the lerer, :is indicated .fit (3X in Figs. 2 and and at 7x in Fig. l. The throw of the pawls UD and Tf' of the rotary und vertical magnets respectively is limited by fitting slides to the freine member 221, es indicated in lligs. l and it is particularly important. that the ntion, oi the actuating pawls be positively limited, in order to avoid any overthrow, and to positively Withdr-.uv euch pawl from its ratchet when its armature retracls, thzit it may fell into lthe succeeding tooth. This may he uitnined hy fixed. siops, hut in 2 is shown '.:n udjns'izihle limiting plate i slide. for the vertical psiwl, which is marked SX in that ligure aud 7X in Fig. 1. lily loosening the holding screws, and sliding the plate slightly from side to-side, the edges of the opening y in the plate. may be raised er lowered as required. ln operation, when the pawl is thrown up by the action of the magnet, its nose forced into one of the indentniions in the vertical ratchet, so that it carries the spindle with it. As the upper edge of the par-:l comes against the upper end of the opening y in the limiting plate, `ts ewn motion stops, and because of the 'peculiar shape of the nose and of the indentations, the vertical motion of the spindle also ceases instantly, thus ohvinting any possihle liability to overthrowing or moving ino than the single step intended. As the pswl drops, its lower ed'e strikes the lower edge of the opening 3j, and it slides ont, tensioning its spring (3Q, ready to engage the next toot-h if the magnet is again energized.

li: assembling this switch, the frame 2 is seein-'eil "re the plaie 1 through the medium o Sheri. posts 12, hy screws passing through the :n'ls et arms 2b and 2. The length posts is such that when the screws t n.33, the spindle 5 is centered with le the serrature of the banks, so Wipers 5 and 5X (see Figs. 1 and 3) '"guge the contacts in the banks when c @die is roteied hy the magnet 6 and by the 'magnet 7. ln operation .the vet 6 works first, turning the spindle the Wipers and come 'Undef' the @fied row of contacts, the spindle being held, in. positien hy the. nose 11a on the 'dbg the rotary ratchet 5g. The

spindle and its Wipers are then raised step by step through the agency of the magnet 7, until the wipers rest upon the desired contacts in the row selected. 'll-lie" switch is adapted to be used for any purpose, and in any circuit, either as a selector or connector. 'lo restore it to' zero, the magnet 8 is energized, attracting its armature and causing the end of its lever 8a to force over the tail 11C of the dog 11 until the tail 11d engages and is held by the latch Ga on the rotary mounting plate. The detents 11a4 and 1lb are then disengaged from, the respective ratchets 5g and 503, and the spindle drops ot its own weight until the wipers have cleared the row with which they were engaged, after which the spring in casing 5" turns the spindle hack to the Zero position in the drawings.

"or convenience in `making connections, a set ot' jacksI arenarovided on the lower portion of the plate 1, as'indicated at 15, cooperating blades 16 being Ycarried on the lower part of the frame 2. The ack springs 15 are mounted in an insulating strip and extend through to the back of the plate for ready access in wiring, and the upper ends of the blades 16 are notched for connection the magnets and the' to theterminal wires of wipers.

I am aware that some changes may be made in matters of-detail in thisstructure, without atlecting the design or the essential features of my-invention. I 4wish it thoro ughly understood that all -such-non-essential changes or modifications are contemplated by me, if within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my=invention vwhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is` 1. In an electric switch, bank contacts, wiper contacts, a spindle carrying the.` wip, ers, means for rotating the spindle, and a non-rotating rack lying parallel to-and carrying journal bearings-0n its ends for the spindleI and adapted when moved to reciprocate the same.

2.' In an electric switch, a frame, bank contacts carried on said frame and arranged in a plurality of rows, wiper contacts cooperating with the bank contacts, a spindle carrying said wipers and journaled for rota` tion in the frame with an electromagnet adapted to rotate the same, a rack lying parallel to and carrying journal bearings on its ends for the spindle, reciprocating the rack, and'means or -preventing rotation of the rack, whereby rotation and reciprocation of the spindle may be accomplished, and thewipers adjusted to any desired bank contact in any row.

3. In an electric switch, a frame, bank contacts carried on said frame and arranged in a lplurality of rows, wiper contacts cooperating with the bank contacts, a spindle an electroma net for' agozagnzo carrying'said wipersandijournaled for rotation in the frame with an electromagnet adapted to rotate the same, a krack lying parallel to and carrying journal bearings on its ends for the spindle,.an'-electromagnet for reciprocating the rack, means'on the frame for preventing rotation of the rack, and a detent coperating with the rack to maintain the switch in position after its wipers have been set, together wit-ha release `magnet for disengaging said detent vfrom the rack and restoring the parts to normal.

4. In an electric switch,l a frame, bank contacts carried on said frame and arranged 1n a plurality of rows, wiper contacts cooperating with the bank contacts, a spindle carrying said -Wipers and journaled for rotation in the frame with an electromagnet adapted to rotate the same, a.rack carrying journal bearings on the spindle and an electroinagnct for reciprocating the rack, means on the frame to prevent rotation of the rack, a detent adaptedito hold the spindle against reverse rotation, another detent adapted to engage teetlr on the rack, and a release magnet adapted when energized to disengage said detents'ad restore the parts to normal condition. I

5. In an electric. Switch, a frame, bank contacts carried on said 'frame and arranged in a plurality of rows/"wiper contactscooperating with the bank contacts, a spindle carrying said wipers and journaled for rota-A tion inI t-he frame with- .an electromagnet adapted to rotate 'the same, a rack carrying journal bearings on thevspindle and an electromagnet for reciprocating the rack, means on the frame to prevent-rotation of the rack, a detent adapted to hold the spindle against reverse rotation, anothe'r detent-adapted t0 engage teeth on the rack, vmeanson the `frame fo prevent reverserotatioof the spindle after recipro'catln` and a release magnet'adapted to act-upon said detents so as to first produce reverse reciprocation of the spindle from any position in which it has been set, whereby it may be disengaged from the frame detentyand then permittingw reverse rotation ort the spindle, to bring the wipers into zero or normal posit-ion.

6. In an electric swith, the combination with the following instrumentalities: .a frame, bank con/tacts vand a spindle carrying wipers, an actnatingmagnet structure comprlsing a supplemental frame, a magnet core, an extended armature and retracting springs, all .secured together and to the switch 'frame-as a detachable interchangeable unit, a release magnet 'structure similar to the actuating magnet structure and secured in the same manner to the switch frame, means for actuating the spindle con- "trolled by the actuating magnet, a holding dog or detent for the spindle adapted to maintain it intixed position when actuated,

and a latch for said dog or detent compris ing a lever ivoted at an intermediate point to the supp emental frame of the actuating magnet structure with one arm extending into position to be engaged by the armature lever of the actuating magnet, atnd with another arm extending from the pivot into proximity with the holding dog, and provided witha terminal catch for said dog.

7. In an electric switch, thebcombination of' the following instrumentalities, bank contacts, a spindle carrying ,coperating wipers, a frame carrying the spindle, a unitary electromagnet structure detachably secured to the frame and comprising an electromagnet, its armature, and an actu ated spindle engaging device, a detent adapted to hold the spindle in' actuated position, a release magnet adapted to retract the said detent and release the spindle, and a latch to retain said spindle in retracted position, said latch being mounted on and forming a part of said detachable structure l of the electromagnet and operable by said electromagnet to release said detent.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of the following instrumentalities, bank contacts, a spindle carrying coperating wipers, a detachable electromagnet having an armature and armature lever carrying means to actuate the spindle, a detent for holding the spindle in actuated position, a secondvelectromagnet having an armature and armature lever carrying means to trip said detent so as to release the' spindle and permit its restoration to normal, and a spring latch pivoted on the actuating electromagnet structure, said latch having one member adapted to engage and hold the detent when tripped, and another member rising inlthe path ot4 the armature lever of the actuating magnet, whereby the momenntary energization of the second or release electromagnet will trip and latch the detent so as to insure complete restoration of the spindle,l and the first movement of the actuating magnet lever will unlatch the detent, and permit it to again engage the spindle.

9. In an electric switch, a frame, bank contacts and a spindle Carrying wipers, a rotary ratchet for said spindle, an actuating pawl for said ratchet and an actuating magnet for the pawl, means for moving the spindle longitudinally, and an extended detent or knife edge fixed rigidly on the frame parallel to the spindle, adapted to engage said rotary ratchet after rotation and upon subsequexlt longitudinal movement of the spindle, whereby rotation of the latter in either direction during said longitudinal movement is prevented.

10. An electric switch comprising bank contacts, a spindle mounted in a suitably positioned frame and carrying wipers coperating with said contacts, an actuating electromagnet adapted to operateY said spindle to carry its wipers into engagement with said contacts, said electromagnet being mounted in a plane passing to one side of said spindle, but substantially parallel thereto, a detent for holding said spindle in actuated position, having its main body in a plane including said spindle, electromagnetic means for retracting said detent, and a latch associated with said first named actuating electromagnet and adapted to retain said'detent in 'retracted position, together with actuating connections between said latch and said electromagnet whereby the latch is operated upon actuation of the magnet to release saiddetent.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT. Witnesses H. F. LWENsTEIN, JAMES H. MARR.-

Goplel of this patent may be obtained for ve cents cach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

